HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Four different players scored in double-figures for the Marshall women’s basketball team on Thursday night as the Thundering Herd broke a five game losing streak with a win over Rice 65-57.

Marshall improved to 13-8 (4-4 C-USA) with the win, while Rice dropped to 11-11 (5-4 C-USA).

Senior guard Alaya Mitchell led with a career-high 16 points after shooting 6-for-11 from the field and shooting a flawless 4-for-4 from the free throw line.

Sophomore forward Erica Woods earned her second double-double of the season after earning 13 points and grabbing a team-high 11 boards.

Senior guard Rashedah Henriques tied her season high point total with 10 after going 5-for-6 from the free throw line.

“I was very proud of the way our returnees responded,” said head coach Royce Chadwick after the game. “I thought each one of them stepped up and played exceptionally well.”

Freshman Shay Weaver also combined for a season-high 13 points and knocked down three of the four three-pointers Marshall made during the contest.

Chadwick showcased a new starting line-up for the opening minutes as Suporia Dickens earned her fourth career start as a Thundering Herd. Dickens ended the game with five rebounds and two steals.

“Suporia Dickens is certainly an unsung hero,” noted Chadwick on the sophomore forward. “Her line doesn’t indicate that it was a monster game for her, but she played very good defense and made a lot of contributions for our team.

Marshall began the contest by going 10-for-12 from the field and jumped ahead of the Owls 17-2 in the first six minutes of play.

The Marshall defense limited Rice to just nine made baskets in the first half, while forcing the Owls to turn the ball over 11 times and earning 6 steals.

After going into the locker rooms with a 36-25 lead, Marshall sustained a lead for the entirety of the second half. The closest Rice got to the Herd was a seven-point deficit in the final five minutes of play.

After having lost the rebounding battle in the last three games, Marshall responded by grabbing 40 boards and limiting Rice to 33.

The Marshall defense earned 10 steals on the night and forced the Owls to turn-over the ball 21 times. The defense also limited Rice to just 35.0 percent from the field and 27.0 percent in three-pointers.

“Defensively we were back to playing the way we are capable of playing,” said Chadwick. “Offensively, we were able to read a lot of things and get the ball were it needed to be, while making a lot of plays. That’s what you have to do in February – you have to grind it out, make plays and get stops on defense.”

The Herd returns to the Cam Henderson Center for a game against UAB on Sunday. The contest is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET and will be offered through live audio on 88.1 FM-WMUL or online at www.marshall.edu/wmul. The game will also be featured through live stats and live video, via www.herdzone.com.